Election / Online attacks an ‘almost daily occurrence’ for candidates in lead-up to election
LIBERAL Democrat candidate Emma Macdonald says she is not using her personal Facebook page in the lead-up to May’s election in a bid to avoid social media abuse.
She said all the candidates “have a responsibility to ensure they set a good example in how they behave”, urging them all to “uphold respectful debate” during the campaign.
Macdonald was speaking in response to a report from the Electoral Commission, which said candidates have faced harassment, threats and physical intimidation while campaigning in recent elections.
It found that over half of candidates felt they had experienced harassment or abuse following the 2024 UK general election, with women twice as likely to report serious abuse.
All of the seven candidates, at the time of the report, were approached for their views. Only Hannah Mary Goodlad (SNP) and Vic Currie (Reform) did not respond.
Macdonald said it was for all the candidates to call out bad behaviour, “no matter who it is aimed at”, online or in person.
She said she was using her campaign Facebook page during the election lead-up, but restricted her ability to access her personal page because of social media abuse.
“My approach to politics has always been to behave in a respectful and dignified manner, both in person and online, even if others don’t display the same behaviours and that is what I will continue to do during this campaign,” she told Shetland News.
“If we want more people to positively engage with politics, I think we do need to reset the narrative so that the discourse happens in a way that is more balanced and less polarised, but with the way the world is just now that is incredibly difficult.
“Public scrutiny and challenge are completely fair, but when that crosses a line and its personal and impacting people’s family, it isn’t acceptable”.
Alex Armitage, who is standing for the Scottish Greens, said some of his party’s volunteers had faced abusive comments on doorsteps during the campaign.
“It’s been incredibly hurtful for those involved and I’m grateful that our local Shetland Green members are a supportive group of folk,” he said.
But online, Armitage said, abuse and personal attacks were “an almost daily occurrence”.
“It’s depressing to have to go through the replies to Facebook posts, deleting obscene remarks that are only designed to intimidate,” he said.
He said he had “developed a thick skin” as a candidate at his fifth election, adding he was “also protected by my privilege” as a white, middle-class heterosexual man.
“Many of my fellow Shetland Green members cannot count on having the same privilege as me and are attacked because of it,” he said.
“There are dozens of folk in the Shetland Greens who directly suffer discrimination in their lives, just for being who they are.”
Armitage urged the party’s opponents to challenge the Greens on their policies, record and vested interests – not on what they look like or who they are.
And he questioned whether local media organisations in Shetland could do more to moderate comment sections, which he said had become “important democratic spaces”.
“When articles are posted on social media, there are a significant number of comments which cross the line in terms of name calling or personal attack.
“The existence of these comments toxifies what is an important democratic space for our community, silencing the voices of many who may otherwise be keen to air their opinions.”
Labour candidate John Erskine is another veteran campaigner, and he said likewise that abuse was “water off a duck’s back” for him.
But he added that it was still unacceptable, saying he had experienced it throughout his campaigns – particularly online.
“We should be concerned about what this means for who feels able to stand for election,” he said.
“This kind of behaviour risks putting younger people, women and disabled people off stepping forward, and that can only weaken our democracy.
“Abuse and intimidation should not be part of our political culture, but unfortunately it has been for a long time.”
He said that much of it was driven online by “highly partisan activists”.
“When you’re out speaking to voters on the doorstep, whether in Shetland or elsewhere, the overwhelming majority of people are friendly and respectful, even when they disagree with you.
“We need stronger action to tackle online hate and abuse, and to ensure that standing for election doesn’t come with an expectation of harassment.”
Conservative candidate Douglas Barnett only joined the race over the last week, but said he had already been subject to abuse.
“The consequences of this behaviour is to damage our democratic system,” he said.
“The responsibility for changing things lies with all of us – in making clear that harassment, abuse and intimidation around elections is totally unacceptable in Shetland and anywhere else.”
Brian Nugent, standing for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland party, said talking about other candidates’ policy positions and political records was fine – but said there was a point when talking about a candidate crossed into personal attacks.
He said, from past experience: “I just do not see personal attacks happening in Shetland”.
“There have been, and will be, heated moments in hustings discussions, but they fall well short of personal attacks,” Nugent said.
“Robust debate and differing views are what politics is about. Candidates are entitled to hold and express opinions that others may strongly disagree with.”
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